The bid to preserve the palm-leaf manuscripts unearthed from the attic of the centuries-old Kumaranalloor Devi Temple in Kottayam has gained fresh momentum with strong backing from the Union government.
The Sevadhi Museum and Indological Research Institute, established to safeguard and study these manuscripts, has received approval from the Gyan Bharatam Mission under the Union Ministry of Culture to function as an independent research institute. Gyan Bharatam is the Ministry’s flagship initiative dedicated to documenting, conserving and digitising India’s vast manuscript heritage. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising this partnership was signed by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, and Hari C.T., Administrator of Sevadhi at a function held at the national capital.
Among the 14 research institutions approved by the Mission across India, Sevadhi has been classified as an independent research institute.
Sevadhi houses an impressive collection of 37,200 palm leaves along with several rare works on medicine, astronomy, architecture, poetry, and more. A detailed compilation titled Kumaranalloor Granthavari has already been published based on the contents of these manuscripts. Sevadhi recently conducted a three-month course in Epigraphy and Manuscriptology in collaboration with Alliance University, Bengaluru.
Believed to be nearly three centuries old, the manuscripts are expected to reveal significant insights into the life and society of the people who lived during the royal era of Kottayam. According to temple authorities, the collection contains temple records, details of rites and rituals, information on Brahmini pattu, a traditional form of devotional singing, numerous land title deeds, revenue documents, accounts, communication notes, and more.
Published – November 22, 2025 06:39 pm IST
